Your beautiful face is likely to be infront of a camera ALL day on your wedding day.  If not infront of your photographer’s camera, you will most likely still be posing for your friends’ cameras, as they capture candid or posed shots with you.  Here are some of my wedding day make-up tips for looking your best on your wedding day: 

1) No tans.

You may think you want to get a nice tan before your wedding, but please resist the urge to get a golden glow.  The last thing you want in every single one of your wedding photos is a distracting tan line or the sometimes orange skin that can happen with self-tanning-lotions or sprays.

2) No major changes to hair.

Some people might suggest you “pamper” yourself before your wedding day, which is a great idea!  When you go, please avoid having a new person do any sort of new work to your eyebrows, hair cut, or hair color.  If you’ve ever walked away from a salon with too thin of eyebrows, or highlights that weren’t the right color, or hair that was way shorter than you intended, you already know that you do NOT want any of this to happen a few days before your wedding day. Play it safe and don’t make any major changes to your hair in the week leading up to your wedding.

3) Do a trial run at your Engagement/Bridal Session.

One of the best ways to know how your hair and make-up will look on the day of your wedding is to have it photographed prior to your wedding.  I often encourage my brides to do a trial run of their hair and make-up for their engagement session.  This lets them know how it will look photographed and discuss any changes they’d like to make with their hair/make-up artist prior to the day of.

4) Don’t put makeup near the dress.

Some people like to get make-up put on their chest or back to cover up scars or acne.  This may sound like a good idea, but if the make-up starts to run, it will get on your dress and may not wash out easily.  Then, you’ll be left with either a stain on your dress or a wet mark until the dress dries out from where it had to be washed.  Please discuss this with your make-up artist beforehand.

5) Wear waterproof mascara.

This may go without saying, but you’ll probably be emotional on your wedding day (even if you claim to not be very emotional).  Your wedding day is a HUGE day!  You’ve found the man of your dreams and are committing to love him for the rest of forever.  This is such a thrilling moment, but also sad, as you realize, for the first time, that your parents are having to officially tell the world that you’re not “that little girl” anymore.  Everyone around you will be emotional.  It just happens.  With this in mind, it is best to wear waterproof mascara, so that if the tears start rolling, they won’t take your mascara down your face with them.

6) Wear slightly darker make-up application than normal.

Most of my brides go for the more natural look when it comes to make-up.  This clean look is excellent, but please make sure you’re going slightly darker than normal.  It is all too easy to be washed out, so don’t be afraid to use a bit more color and go a shade darker than what you usually wear on a night out.

7) Apply make-up in natural light.

The best place to have your make-up put on is in natural light.  Not only is this what most people will see you in as you walk down the aisle, but other light sources can cast colors on your face that make your make-up look differently than what it really is.  As a side note, it is also the most flattering light for photography, so your getting ready photos will look prettier in the natural window light!

8) Use barstool for application process.

Try to find a tall barstool to sit on while your make-up is being applied.  This puts you at eye-level with your make-up artist, so she can see you at the same angle your guests will.  If possible, get one with a low back, so your hair-stylist doesn’t have to try to work around the back of the chair and has better access to your hair.

9) Bride goes first.

Although you’ve done a run through for your engagement session, you may still feel the need to tweak a few things about your hair/make-up on your wedding day.  If you go first, you’ll still be ready in time for your bridal portraits and first look without worry.  If you go last, your bridesmaids may have tweaked their dos and have caused time delays with the hair/make-up artist, causing your appointment to be rushed.  Not only will this sense of urgency cause unnecessary worry on your part, it leaves you less time for adjustments to your own hair/make-up and could make you late for your portraits.  YIKES!  Another perk to going first is that you’ll look great for the getting-ready shots with your hair/make-up already done!  Thank you, Kara from Click Chick Images, for sharing this one!

10) Do opt to wear fake eyelashes.

Regardless of your eyelashes, opt to wear fake eyelashes to make your natural ones look fuller and longer!  They really make your eyes pop and photograph GORGEOUSLY!

Please remember that I’m just an Austin Wedding Photographer, not a make-up artist or hair stylist.  Your professional wedding day make-up artist or hair stylist will have so many more tips than I do and have a ton of experience in the field.  I encourage you to seek out their knowledge and suggestions for your own wedding day and begin the dialogue of what you’re envisioning for your day!

If you need a suggestion for the best make-up artist in Austin, just ask!

– Mylah Renae

www.Eureka-Photography.com

More from this “June Bride” Series:

Why I give away engagement sessions

Third Favorite Person to see on a wedding day

The most photographed item on your wedding day